University of Missouri junior defensive end Marcell Frazier (Portland, Ore.) has been named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week, as announced today by the league office. Frazier was awarded for his outstanding play in last Friday’s 28-24 victory over Arkansas, as he made numerous key plays that sparked Mizzou’s win to close the 2016 season.
Frazier ended the day with four tackles (42 yards in losses) – with all of them coming behind the line of scrimmage, including three sacks (35 yards). His last sack was the game clincher, as he wrapped up Arkansas QB Austin Allen for a 17-yard loss on 4th-and-goal from the Mizzou 20-yardline with the Razorbacks in striking distance in the final minute of play. That sack turned the ball over to Mizzou, and the Tiger offense killed the clock to claim the come-from-behind win.
Frazier and his defensive teammates pitched a second-half shutout against the potent Arkansas offense, and that allowed the Tiger offense to put together a rally that saw Mizzou overcome a 24-7 halftime deficit. The 17-point halftime deficit was the largest overcome for a victory in program history.
Frazier added a quarterback pressure on the day and he also drew a holding penalty against the Razorbacks in the fourth quarter due to his constant presence in the backfield. The junior end turned in his most productive season as a Tiger, ending the 2016 campaign with career highs in tackles (33), tackles for loss (8.5 for 68 yards), QB sacks (7.5 for 61 yards), QB pressures (4) and fumble recoveries (2). He finished the season with a flourish, notching 7.5 of his TFLs and 6.5 of his QB sacks in the final three games against Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Arkansas. His 7.5 sacks ranks him 9th in the SEC for the season.
Frazier is the second Tiger defensive lineman to win the league’s weekly award in 2016, as he joins fellow junior Charles Harris, who won the honor after Mizzou defeated Vanderbilt on Nov. 12. He’s the third Tiger overall to receive weekly league honors this year, as freshman WR Johnathan Johnson won SEC Freshman of the Week for his performance against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 10.
